When Carnegie Kincaid, proprietor of ‘Made In Heaven Wedding Design’ inherits Sally Tyler, from her rival on the wedding planning front Dorothy Fenner, she is pretty pleased. Social standing apart she needs the money. But her pleasure is short-lived when she finds herself roped in to organise the bachelor party for Sally fiancé Frank Sanjek. Although Sally makes it clear that bachelor parties are not part of the deal she finds herself agreeing to organise the food. Then a phone call from Sally that the best man Jason Kraye needs her, and against her better judgement Carnegie finds herself on her way to Hot Spot Café, the party’s venue. Being mistaken for the stripper does not improve her mood, and being told she’s been called because they need more beer, renders her momentarily speechless. Later searching for a photograph to show at a at a TV appearance the following morning on a breakfast show feature on Wedding Planners, she observes the antics taking place across the bay in the Hot Spot café, and is glad she is out of it.
Her early morning television debut doesn’t go well. As Ivy Tyler, Sally’s mother puts it ‘Honey you got screwed in public’. But this disaster pales into insignificance on the arrival of Detective Bates who informs Carnegie that “a man’s body was retrieved from the Ship Canal this morning” and her business card was found in his pants pocket. She is requested to take a look at the body.
When Carnegie’s reports of her observations when she had a pair of binoculars trained on the Hot Spot Café (oh! Did I not mention that?), suspicion falls on her best friends brother. And so with a delay in the repairs to her houseboat and unable to stay any longer at her present lodgings, Carnegie accepts the offer to stay at Ivy Tyler’s place. Ivy Tyler is the famous CEO of MFC (Meet for Coffee) chain, and when Ivy hires her for a big reception she is planning, things are looking up. Or are they? The reception is hush hush, Her relationship with Aaron Gold is not going too well, and her best friend isn’t speaking to her.
When a second murder occurs Carnegie finds herself in an uneasy alliance with
Aaron Gold, but can she trust him? I confess I had been looking forward to this
book having so much enjoyed Veiled Threats, and I wasn’t disappointed. The writing
is crisp and the characters well drawn, with the plot moving along at a compelling
pace. A very enjoyable read, I look forward to the next episode in the life
of Carnegie Kincaid.
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Lizzie Hayes
Earlier books in the series are Veiled Threats and Died to Match..